Alex Yeager, aka 734smg, makes a lazy and sleazy kind of hiphop. It sounds nonchalant and muddy, but on purpose. It reminds of golden age 90s hiphop, like Wu-Tang Clan or Cypress Hill, but also early Dean Blunt or vaporwave. Yeager already released 35+ records, by himself or through like-minded friends. They all got this easy-going act-before-you-think attitude in common. »Stoned Immaculate«, Jim Morrison would have said.
skug: When did you start making music as 734smg?
Alex Yeager: I have been making trap music since 2015, but the first tape didn’t come out physically until 2017. Since then, I have recorded and released a lot of material for singles, splits, and compilations and put out around 35 albums independently or in conjunction with my friends’ labels.
What does the name 734smg refer to?
When I first put out my hiphop, I used the name $MG, short for sub-machine gun, a type of firearm i like and often include in my album covers. But when it was searched online it had an error where the dollar sign is excluded and only brought back results for MG. I also found out there was a band called smg and wanted to differentiate myself without losing the moniker, so I added the area code of the place I was living at at that particular time.
How did you get into hiphop?
I grew up hearing rock and metal and hiphop music in movies and on TV and from friends and family as well. My dad has played guitar and has sung in bands my entire life so at a young age, I often could be found with him at a practice or an occasional gig.
When did you start making your own music?
I first started making music in 2002, practicing songwriting and fooling around on the guitar. By 2003 I had formed an impromptu punk band and we played a show. Even though I was in a punk band, I was basically just rapping while yelling. The following year me and a few friends formed a group called 7 Eye Sect, I sang in that group. We played around 30 shows and began recording our music on 4-track in a basement. We self-released two demos and a full-length 16-track CD which was recently picked back up and re-released thru Memento Mori Recordings in Owosso, Michigan. A few years after that I started a band called Bludgeonment. I had sung with them for a recording session and we booked a show, but the drummer quit before the show, so I had to pick up and drum while singing. There’s a video on YouTube of that set. We did a split on Trashfuck Records with Gorgonized Dorks and Tonguebiter. I then was in a deathrock band with Lil Mack called Xenophobe. We recorded an album called »Shivers«. I also have a noise core project called Shitblister with probably three hours of unreleased music I’ll get out some time.
What’s your working process and set-up like? Which gear do you use?
Usually, I’m flexible. I don’t need a specific DAW or piece of equipment to work. I could field record samples and arrange them on anything really. I rap and make beats and effectively produce my physical releases and some for friends.
Are you part of a hiphop scene?
I’m known in punk / grind and trap music scenes.
What do you do when you’re not making music? What’s your day job?
I’m a medical marijuana caregiver and plant breeder at Cultigen Seed Co.
What are you listening to right now?
I listen to Brotha Lynch Hung, BG, Big Tymers, Triple Six Mafia, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Wu-Tang Clan, Mystikal, Big Pun, SPM and so much more to list.
What are your future plans?
I’m currently working on getting some physical releases out to my homie Last Action in Belgium!
